It's also elevating the Great Lakes' reputation as a destination for thrill-seekers and business executives alike who prize the region's unmatched water-based way of life, according to Tom Kucharski, president of Buffalo Niagara Enterprise.

The real potential of Buffalo's boating business - and those of countless cities on the shores of America's Great Lakes - illustrates how an investment in Great Lakes restoration will likely result in profound and long-lasting economic, environmental, and cultural benefits.